WIND, rain and stormy conditions did not dampen the spirits of more than 1,200 runners who took part in Coventry's first Sport Relief Mile.

Former world champion 5,000m and 1,500m runner David Moorcroft and Jo Cameron, a contestant in 2007's The Apprentice - both from Coventry - helped to launch yesterday's fun event with the city's Lord Mayor, Cllr Dave Batten.

The Coventry Mile started at The Whittle Arch, Millennium Place, in three waves at 9.30pm, 10am and 10.30am.

Rugby's Mile which was to be held at Draycote Water was cancelled over safety concerns because of harsh weather conditions.

Despite a grey overcast sky and a forecast of heavy rain the atmosphere in Coventry city centre was lively and upbeat as families, friends, work colleagues and professional runners took to the streets to raise cash for Sainsbury's Sport Relief.

Little four-year-old Lydia Mitchell, from Barford village in Warwickshire, was determined she was going to run the whole mile without stopping - and she did, much to the amazement of her father.

Commercial manager Mark Mitchell, aged 40, cheered on by his wife Philippa and one-year-old son Edward, said: "I am incredibly proud of Lydia - she literally did not stop. She has been really excited for weeks and raised £57 on her own Sport Relief web page."

After the race Lydia enjoyed a much deserved cranberry juice.

Another dad, accountant Jonathan Moore, aged 33, from Balsall Common, also ran the mile with his four-year-old daughter, Evelyn, a pupil at Balsall Common Primary School.

They were supported by his wife Sarah, aged 32, and daughter Romilly, aged 16 months.

Jonathan said: "We thought it was going to be a nice sunny, fun day and we have raised £145. We have been checking the weather for the past four days and it's not been getting any better."

Many of the runners were in fancy dress included sales representative Simon Trout, aged 24, and accountant Ben Harris, aged 25, who dressed up as the two guys in the TV ad for 118 directory enquiries.

Simon, from Coundon, Coventry, said: "Since Tuesday we have raised £500 going round the pub. We did the six miles."

Andrea Hutchin, from Coundon, Coventry, was persuaded by her four-year-old daughter Antonia, who attends Moseley Primary School, to dress up like a fairy for the Sport Relief Mile.

Andrea said: "She wanted to take part after seeing it on the telly. We have managed to raise £120. I have done the Run For Life before but this is the first time we have ever done the Sport Relief Mile."

While some runners donned fancy dress, other competitors tied their legs together and three competitors did the mile on crutches.

Ecologist Anna Dudley, aged 28, who has broken her foot, was joined by two friends - James Brook, aged 28, also an ecologist and Bernie Higgins, aged 30, of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Anna said: "I thought it would be even more of a challenge to do it on crutches!"

Three Coventry University students - Katie Davies, aged 23, Rachel Wilson, aged 19 and Christine Fern, aged 20 - who all work at The Phoenix pub in the city centre, managed to complete it four-legged.

Entertainment in the city centre throughout the event included Titan the Robot, circus workshops and a Brazilian acrobatic troupe.

Celebrities step up to help raise funds.

AROUND £20 million has already been raised for the BBC's Sport Relief 2008, which saw celebrities battle it out in the boxing ring and the ballroom.

There were special Sport Relief-themed editions of Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice, Top Gear - as well as A Question of Sport Relief, and a mystery donor gave £5.5 million to the Sport Relief charity appeal in one of the biggest single gifts in the history of TV fundraising.

At the end of the show, a total of £19,640,321 was unveiled by presenters Patrick Kielty and Claudia Winkleman.

His epic trip, with TV presenter Adrian Chiles, finished in London after they cycled 335 miles from Newcastle to London. Former England cricketer Mark Ramprakash teamed up with EastEnders actress Kara Tointon to win a special edition of Celebrity Come Dancing.

And in a showdown of the chat show kings, Jonathan Ross interviewed Michael Parkinson.

Little Britain star David Walliams and Olympic rower James Cracknell recently took on a swimming challenge, covering 12 miles from Gibraltar to Morocco. ..SUPL: